Boosting S&T research in Philippine-based universities

Halfway through its implementation, the Science, Technology Research and Innovation for Development (Stride) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) now seeks to “plant the seeds” for sustainability and tries its best to extend the program beyond its five-year mark.

“Five years is real short for education and research, that’s why it’s all about planting seeds because that’s what we all have time to do,” said David Hall, USAID Stride chief of party.

Stride, which started in July 2013 and will run until June 2018, aims to stimulate inclusive growth by boosting science and technology research in Philippine-based universities.

USAID allotted $32 million (P1.3 billion) for the grants to be given to selected universities that will do research in collaboration with industries and US universities.

Hall said there are 26 grants at the moment—valued at P100 million—and 10 more in the pipeline. Stride also brings faculty members and professionals from the United States to help bring research capability in Philippine universities.

The applicants will be assessed by a panel of experts—a team from Philippine and US universities and industries. The research has to be in science and technology, has a link to economic growth, and has to have a Philippine business or US university collaborator.

Also part of the program was the recently held 2015 Philippine Innovation Summit in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology, RTI International and the Intellectual Property of the Philippines at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Pasig City.

The conference was attended by innovation strategists and life science practitioners who helped identify improvement pathways in the key element of economic growth in the country.

Problems in research

Stride also launched the Philippine Government Universities Industry Research Roundtable, which brings the DOST, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Commission on Higher Education together to talk about common problems in research.

In addition, Stride will offer a series of training that would focus on research, including proposal writing, project management and budgeting.

“We are looking to set up a virtual network that will continue to deliver that kind of training, so everything we do, we really want to continue afterward … to make them live beyond Stride,” he said.

In August, 16 Stride scholars started on their two-year Professional Science Master’s (PSM) courses in selected universities in the United States. PSM is a combined core science and technology curriculum that involves professional training in business and management.